Economic Intelligence | Any Geography

Richland County, SC

Welcome to Richland County.

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Richland County is the second most populous in the state of South Carolina, representing 8% of the state's population.

Total GDP for the county increased 30%, in the five years ending in 2022, to reach $32 billion.

Between 2000 and 2024 presidential elections, Richland County voted for Democratic candidates every time and never voted for Republicans.

Richland County comprises Columbia, SC metropolitan area.

The largest city in the county is Columbia.

Surrounding counties and county equivalents include: Calhoun County, Fairfield County, Kershaw County, Lexington County, Newberry County, and Sumter County.

Presidential Election

🔵 Democrat    🔴 Republican

Election Year
Candidates (Party)*
Votes (% Total)Landslide
Scale**
🔵🔴
2000
🔴George W. Bush
🔵Al Gore
54.24%43.07%+
2004
🔴George W. Bush
🔵John Kerry
57.01%42.01%+
2008
🔵Barack Obama
🔴John McCain
64.02%35.11%++
2012
🔵Barack Obama
🔴Mitt Romney
65.34%33.37%++
2016
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Hillary Clinton
64.01%31.1%++
2020
🔵Joe Biden
🔴Donald Trump
68.39%30.1%++
2024
🔴Donald Trump
🔵Kamala Harris
Notes:
*Presidential Tickets
2000 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D) Al Gore & Joe Lieberman
2004 (R) George W. Bush & Dick Cheney; (D)John Kerry & John Edwards
2008 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) John McCain & Sarah Palin
2012 (D) Barack Obama & Joe Biden; (R) Mitt Romney & Paul Ryan
2016 (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence; (D) Hillary Clinton & Tim Kaine
2020 (D) Joe Biden & Kamala Harris; (R) Donald Trump & Mike Pence
2024 (R) Donald Trump & JD Vance; (D) Kamala Harris & Tim Waltz
**Landslide Scale (county)
+ Victory margin was less than 20 percent
++ Victory margin was between 20 to 49 percentage points of more votes
+++ Victory margin was more than half but below three quarters
++++ Victory margin was three quarters or more

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Economic Significance

Key IndustryAs %
County GDP
GDP
Growth*
County GDP1100%30%
Government
Enterprises
23%15%
Private Industries77%35%
Agriculture<1%10%
Mining<1%21%
Utilities1%-6%
Construction3%20%
Manufacturing6%11%
– Durable3%-2%
– Nondurable3%25%
Trade12%46%
– Wholesale6%41%
– Retail6%50%
Transportation1%40%
Information3%11%
Finance & Insurance10%42%
Real Estate12%52%
Professional &
Business Services
13%51%
Educational Services1%10%
Healthcare &
Social Services
9%19%
Arts, Recreation &
Entertainment
<1%38%
Accommodation &
Food Services
3%34%
Other Services22%27%
Notes:
*Growth rates are based on most recent five-year value available and are updated dynamically
1. All industry total.
2. Includes various repairs, maintenance, personal care, religious organizations, social and professional organizations etc.

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Local Vibrancy

Total*Vibrancy
Indicator
(1-100)**
🚙 Automobile Dealers4884
🪑 Furniture &
Home Furnishings
5782
📺 Electronics & Appliance2679
🛒 Grocery Stores14991
🍾 Beer, Wine & Liquor Stores4283
⚕️ Health & Personal Care11589
⛽ Gasoline Stations15993
👕 Clothing Stores10785
👠 Shoe Stores2776
🧳 Luggage, Leather Goods & Jewelry2776
🏸 Sporting Goods2779
📚 Book Stores & News Dealers1169
🏬 Department Stores8592
💐 Florists755
🎁 Gift, Novelty & Souvenir Shops1360
🐕 Pet & Pet Supplies 1465
🍺 Bars & Taverns2877
🍽️ Full-service restaurants31791
🍔 Limited-service restaurants35391
🏠 Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers21988
🛏️ Traveler Accommodation8390
Notes:
* Total counts of establishments are places of business.
** Vibrancy score is based on comparisons of relevant establishments per square mile of land area among all counties and county equivalents in the United States; A score of 100 means the county is in the top one percentile.

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Wealth Indicators

Household Income by Distribution
As % County’s
Total Household Income
Average Household Income
Maximum Household Income
Top 5%126%$412,700 N/A
Top 20%52%$210,400 $205,200
Next highest 20%22%$90,500 $113,300
Middle 20%14%$57,600 $72,600
Second lowest 20%8%$33,500 $44,000
Bottom 20%3%$12,000 $22,900
Notes:
1. Households with aggregate income above 95% of all households in the county
% Total
Households
Average Household
Income*
Wages & Salaries73%$79,100
Self-Employment9%$29,300
Investment Income116%$22,700
Social Security33%$22,800
Supplemental Security5%$11,400
Public Assistance1%Below $10,000
Retirement24%$30,300
Notes:
* Calculation based on households claim to have specific source of income; Households may have more than one source of income
1Includes interest, dividends, and net rental income

Under
25*
Age 25
to 49*
Age 50
to 64*
Age 65
& Older*
Below
$25K
4%6%5%5%
$25K
– $49K
2%8%6%6%
$50K
– $99K
2%12%10%6%
$100K
– $199K
<1%7%9%4%
$200K
& more
<1%2%4%1%
Notes:
* Age of heads of households

 

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Median Earnings by Worker Characteristics
Race/EthnicityMaleFemale
Non-Hispanic White$41,100 $25,700
African-American$26,800 $16,700
Hispanic$31,600 $20,500
Asian$12,500 $31,300
Level of Education MaleFemale
Below Highschool$28,600 $22,600
Highschool & GED$40,600 $23,700
Some College to
Associate’s
$54,700 $33,100
College/Bachelor’s
Degree
$61,900 $43,400
Graduate Degree$81,100 $56,000
OccupationMaleFemale
White-Collar1$58,300 $47,400
STEM2$67,900 $56,800
Gray-Collar3$38,900 $37,400
Pink-Collar4$11,000 $13,700
Sales5$48,200 $15,500
Blue-Collar6$33,800 $29,500
Notes:
1. Management, business, science, and arts occupations
2. Computer, engineering, and science occupations
3. Protective service occupations including firefighters and law enforcement
4. Personal care and service occupations
5. Sales and sales related
6.Production, transportation, and material moving occupations

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Climate Risks

Disaster CategoryNatural Hazard
Risk Rating
Annual Loss
Per Capita
Avalanche
Coastal Flooding
Cold Waves
Drought+
Earthquake++$
Hail+
Heat Waves++$
Hurricane+$
Ice Storm++$
Landslide+
Lightning+++$
Riverine Flooding++$
Strong Wind++$
Tornado++$
Tsunami
Volcanic Activity
Wildfires+
Winter Weather++
Notes:
Locations with insufficient data or not rated are left blank.
+: Very low to Relatively low risk ratings
++: Relatively moderate
+++: Relatively high
++++: Very high
$: Expected per capita annual loss from the natural disaster is below $100
$$: $100-499
$$$: $500-999
$$$$: $1,000 and more

 

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